Senate overwhelmingly supports advancing bill named for Laken Riley

Tia Mitchell and Lautaro Grinspan, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan 9, 2025

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WASHINGTON — All but nine members of the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to move forward on legislation that would allow law enforcement agencies to detain undocumented immigrants accused of nonviolent crimes like burglary or theft.

Named for Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student killed last year on the University of Georgia’s campus, the legislation is a priority for Republicans hoping to make good on President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to curb immigration.

Both of Georgia’s senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, supported advancing the bill, a procedural step needed to begin debate on the legislation. The bill moved forward by a 84-9 vote, with all of the dissent coming from Democrats.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, the Jackson Republican who is the chief sponsor of the legislation, stood in the back of the Senate chamber as the vote got underway.

Ossoff has said he supports the Laken Riley Act and is ready to pass it on the Senate floor. Warnock thus far won’t commit to more than having the conversation.

“I’ve got some questions,” Warnock, an Atlanta Democrat, said about the bill. “And I think this is an important conversation.”

Gigi Pedraza is the executive director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, one 23 organizations that comprise the Georgia Immigrant Rights Alliance. She said she spent time speaking with both Ossoff and Warnock this week to make a case against the bill after both signaled a level of support.

“This proposal is using a terrible tragedy for political gain. The only winners of this bill are private prison corporations who will profit from the targeting and indefinite detention of immigrants,” she said.

It’s not the first time Ossoff has drawn criticism from advocates who work with immigrants.

In 2023, United Farm Workers criticized his “shocking” support for a bill that sought to freeze the wages of foreign agricultural guest workers. Ossoff, also an Atlanta Democrat, is running for reelection in 2026.

The House signed off on the Laken Riley Act earlier this week with the help of 48 Democrats, including Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath of Marietta. It was the first piece of legislation passed on the House floor by the newly installed Congress.